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"I went back to science fiction to try a few experiments …and my first experiment was a disaster…"
- Alfred Bester
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| Hostage Gas | ||
| A gas sprayed over a population; to survive, those who breathe it must report to centers for the antidote. |
| What is the enemy trying to accomplish with this gas?"
"It weakens any human who breathes it," Dr. Taka answered. "There was a broadcast an hour ago. The invader announced that affected humans must receive the antidote within one week, or die. Of course they are offering the antidote only in urban areas." "Hostage gas!" Athaclena whispered. "They want all the planet's humans as pawns." "Exactly. We must ingather or drop dead in six days." Athaclena's corona sparked anger. Hostage gas was an irresponsible weapon, even if it was legal under "certain limited types of war. |
| Technovelgy from The Uplift War,
by David Brin. Published by Not Known in 1987 Additional resources -
|
This is a very clever idea; maybe too clever. If not for the documented problems in sucessfully laying down poison gas, I'd be worried that someone might actually try this one.
This idea is reminiscent of the residual poison developed by Piter de Vries in Frank Herbert's novel Dune.
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'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'
'I ... set my automatic astronomical instruments to searching for a habitable planet.'
'...haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'
'... oblongs were all over the floor and surfaces.'
